Celebrating friends who make a world of difference (Spring, 2008)

April 28, 2008

In Czech, it’s Dekuji. In Mandarin, it’s Xie Xie. In Turkish, it’s Tesekkur ederim. In English, it’s Thank You.On November 29th, the atrium in the Michael Hooker Research Center was transformed into a magical setting. Each linen-covered table held a “thank you” sign in a different language, reminding guests that their gifts and support for the School reach all around the globe.

In all, 130 people attended the School’s second annual “A World of Difference” dinner honoring the School’s foremost benefactors.

Over a dinner of arugula salad and halibut in Pernod, conversations buzzed between scholarship donors and recipients, faculty members, school advisors and other benefactors. Fred Brown (MPH ’82) president of the Public Health Foundation Board of Directors, welcomed guests and thanked them for their gifts of time and money. Donald Holzworth described why he and his wife, Jennifer, chose to establish scholarships in honor of their fathers. Former professor Dennis Gillings talked about why he and his wife, Joan, decided to make the largest gift in the history of the UNC system to the School of Public Health. They were joined by Stacy-Ann Christian (MPH ’06), who earned her masters in public health in 2006 on a scholarship and already has set up a scholarship of her own to honor her late brother.

“The dinner is our opportunity to say ‘thank you’ in a special way to our most generous friends,” says Peggy Dean Glenn, associate dean for external affairs. “We hope more and more people will join us for this fun evening. The dinner honors all endowment donors and members of the Cornerstone and Rosenau Societies.

The Rosenau Society, named in honor of Milton J. Rosenau, the School’s first dean, comprises donors who annually give $1,000 or more, providing current funds to be used where they are needed most. President’s Circle members ($5,000-$25,000), Chancellor’s Circle ($2,000-$4,900) and Dean’s Circle ($1,000-$1,999) are honored members of the society. The Cornerstone Society recognizes donors who have named rooms or other spaces within the School’s building complex.

To join the Rosenau Society, or make a donation of any amount to the School of Public Health, please see www.sph. unc.edu/giving, or contact the School’s Office of External Affairs at (919) 966-0198.

“All of our friends make a world of difference in our ability to anticipate public health needs and accelerate public health solutions,” Glenn says.

— by Ramona Dubose

Carolina Public Health is a publication of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health. To subscribe to Carolina Public Health or to view the entire Spring 2008 issue in PDF, visit www.sph.unc.edu/cph.